VL Easter Tennis Bash was a grand slam!

Saint Lucia’s tennis champion for over a decade and multi Sportsman of the Year, Vernon Lewis, recently served up a very entertaining and challenging tennis tournament at the National Tennis Centre (NTC) at Beausejour, with all Covid-19 protocols being observed.

Lewis has always been on the receiving end in tennis, having had several awards bestowed on him here and regionally dating back to the 1980’s. Times have changed! Don’t get me wrong, when he plays Lewis still dominates the game here like no other. However, over the years he’s turned his attention to coaching and just recently became a promoter/organizer with the staging of the first ever VL (Vernon Lewis) Easter Tennis Bash. That’s just the beginning! If things go according to plan, there will be a tennis Summer Bash in July, followed by a Creole Bash and Christmas Bash under a similar format.

Lewis told me that given the present circumstances related to Covid-19 players become lethargic from lack of play and competitions will help keep then focused.

The two day event was highly competitive, given the fact six of the top boys and girls battled it out for supremacy on the hard court. It was everything that Lewis envisioned and more.

When the dust had settled, in this case ash from the volcanic eruption in neighboring St Vincent and the Grenadines, Joey Angeloni won the boys singles title. In the final of the boy’s 18s he defeated Aaron Gerald, a left hander who goes by the nickname Nadal, 6-1, 6-4. For being the boy’s singles champion, Angeloni was the recipient of a gift voucher from Taxi.

In the boys third place playoff, Nathan Elliott got past Peterson George in a thriller 6-4, 2-6, and 10-8.

In the boys 18’s doubles final, Gerald teamed up with Peterson George for a 4-2, 4-1 victory over Angeloni and Elliott.

Alysia Elliott won the girls singles title. In the 18’s final she defeated Ayana Paul 6-1, 6-4. For the victory she also received a gift voucher courtesy of Taxi. In the third place playoff, Jorja Mederick —who is college bound having received a scholarship to attend Springfield College in Illinois— defeated Amara Jn Marie 6-1, 6-0.

The girls 18s doubles final was a highly competitive affair. Ayana Paul and LaToya Murray outlasted Elliott and Mederick 5-4, 1-4, 10-7.

At the closing ceremony where the top three in each event received prizes, Lewis thanked the NTC and the media for their cooperation and especially parents for supporting their children with dignity and respect. Last but not least a special thank you was accorded to a gentlemen well known in tennis circles as Screech.

Most of all though, he complimented the players for displaying great talent and togetherness throughout the competition. Having said that, Lewis took immense pleasure in presenting the award for Sportsmanship to Matthew Paris and Sportswomanship to 11 year-old Amia Jn Marie.

Commenting on the inaugural VL Easter Tennis Bash, Lewis commonly referred to as the Ageless Wonder said: “I am elated the way the tournament went. From the get go matches were incredible and high quality. There was never a dull moment with a lot at stake and everybody fought their hardest for it. The level of sportsmanship was so high, I don’t think I have ever witnessed this in a tournament here. There were no hiccups and no querying of calls. This is probably the first tournament we had where there was no controversy and the tournament was fantastic.”